The engine has been taken straight off the Pulsar NS 200 but with some mods. For starters, this bike gets fuel-injection in place of the NS 200’s carburation. As a result the cylinder-head is different. The throttle bodies are larger too, at 38 mm. The engine also revs 500 RPM higher. On the transmission front there’s a six-speed ‘box at work. However, the rear sprocket is now a 41-tooth unit in place of the 39-tooth sprocket of the NS. The combo works well enough and there is enough grunt that is delivered in one smooth arc that corresponds to your throttle wrist. The gearbox, too, is light and slick to shift through. Worthy of mention is the fact that the engine feels more refined than the unit in the NS 200.
Around the twists and turns of the Bajaj Auto test-track, the RS 200 came across as a corner-happy fun-to-ride motorcycle. It’s quite a flickable bike and, therefore, quick changes in directions aren’t a problem at all. Even on the sweeping banked tightening radius ‘U’ on the test-track, the RS 200 holds its line and inspires confidence. The motorcycle feels equally planted on the straights too. A little discussion with a couple of folk from Bajaj’s product development team shed some light on why the bike is more flickable than the NS 200. You see, the rake on the RS is sharper by one degree, which has shortened the wheelbase of the bike. Given the smoothness of the track it will be difficult to predict the bike’s ride quality on our Indian roads, but we would think it should be comfortable and won’t give you a sore bum at the end of a day’s ride. What does merit special mention, though, are the specially developed MRF tyres that offer superb grip.
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